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Friday, June 06, 2014

Thorner: Terrorist prosecutor to discuss impeachment next Thursday in Chicago

Author Andrew McCarthy will discuss new book in Chicago next Thursday

By Nancy Thorner -

Those who watch the Fox News Channel know that author/analyst Andrew McCarthy appears from time to time on the Fox evening lineup of political commentary shows. Last week, he appeared as a guest on the very popular show, The Kelly File, hosted by Megan Kelly. As a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense for Democracies and a columnist for the National Review Andrew was previously the Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, involved with trials of several international terrorists. Most famously, he was the lead prosecutor in the trial against Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman and 11 other terrorists involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Although Impeachment is rare in American history, and for a good reason, it is the ultimate remedy against abuse of executive power. Politically convulsive in nature, the Framers understood impeachment to be a necessary protection if the rule of law is to be maintained.

But what are impeachable offenses? There is widespread confusion among the American people about the answer to this question.

Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution lists treason and bribery, along with “other high crimes and misdemeanors as the standard for impeachment.

Despite what “crimes” and “misdemeanors” connote, the concept has precious little to do with violations of a penal code. Rather, it is about betrayal of the political trust reposed in the president to execute the laws faithfully and “preserve, protect and defend” our constitutional system, as his oath of office requires. Recognized by the Founders in providing for the impeachment of an errant executive was that the rule of law is a sham if lawlessness is rampant among those who govern.

As addressed by the Framers at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, notions of oath, honor and trust were more demanding of public officials than the black and white prohibitions of criminal law which might not even be considered criminal if committed by a civilian.

As Alexander Hamilton explained in The Federalist Papers (No. 65) impeachment of the president should take place for "offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated political, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to society itself."

In Faithless Execution, McCarthy weighs the political dynamics as he builds a case, assembling a litany of abuses that add up to one overarching offense: the president’s willful violation of his solemn oath to execute the laws faithfully. The “fundamental transformation” he promised involves concentrating power into his own hands by flouting law — statutes, judicial rulings, the Constitution itself — and essentially daring the other branches of government to stop him. McCarthy contends that our elected representative are duty-bound to take up the dare. It is a truth that we ignore at our peril.

How might Andrew McCarthy deal with these topics?

Is making the case for impeachment the same as moving forward with impeachment?

What is needed to go forward with impeachment?

Would pursuing impeachment hurt Republicans?

How does the case for Barack Obama's impeachment compare to the campaigns to impeach Nixon and Clinton?

How impeachment becomes a political and not a legal remedy.

What McCarthy thinks of GOP fecklessness in face of Obama's lawlessness?

Hear these issues and more discussed by signing up now! Space is limited.

Location: The Heartland Institute, One South Wacker Drive, #2740

When: Thursday, June 12, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Cost: $15.00 lunch; $35.00 lunch with a copy of

Faithless Execution: Building the Political Case of Obama's Impeachment

Book: I can't make the event but would like a copy of the book. click here

Comments

Thorner: Terrorist prosecutor to discuss impeachment next Thursday in Chicago

Author Andrew McCarthy will discuss new book in Chicago next Thursday

By Nancy Thorner -

Those who watch the Fox News Channel know that author/analyst Andrew McCarthy appears from time to time on the Fox evening lineup of political commentary shows. Last week, he appeared as a guest on the very popular show, The Kelly File, hosted by Megan Kelly. As a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense for Democracies and a columnist for the National Review Andrew was previously the Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, involved with trials of several international terrorists. Most famously, he was the lead prosecutor in the trial against Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman and 11 other terrorists involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Although Impeachment is rare in American history, and for a good reason, it is the ultimate remedy against abuse of executive power. Politically convulsive in nature, the Framers understood impeachment to be a necessary protection if the rule of law is to be maintained.

But what are impeachable offenses? There is widespread confusion among the American people about the answer to this question.